The White Lotus episode 2 recap: Bad sign for resort manager Armond

Things are already unravelling in episode two of The White Lotus, with the show’s main character crumbling to the demands of his wealthy guests.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for episode two of The White Lotus

We’re back for another day at The White Lotus resort in Maui, and no closer to learning who is murdered or even – to quote hotel manager Armond – what the f**k is going on.

We open with an intense drug-fuelled scene with teens Olivia Mossbacher (Sydney Sweeney) and her bestie Paula (Brittany O’Grad) in their bed.

The duo fish marijuana and Xanax pills from their designer duffel bags like they’re M&Ms.

The next morning, Olivia’s dad Mark (Steve Zahn) rolls into their room with a new lease on life after receiving his medical results: He doesn’t have cancer.

Nonchalantly shrugging off the plethora of pills and the bong on his daughter’s bedside table, he proceeds to tell Olivia and her friend that his testicles were swollen and have not deflated yet.

It is the kind of conversation all fathers have with their daughters and their friends.

He then goes dolphin diving in the resort pool brimming with promise for the future.

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High on life. Mark is thrilled with his diagnosis. Picture: Foxtel

Meanwhile, Tanya McQuoid (Jennifer Coolidge) finally gets the massage she so wanted and immediately connects with spa manager Belinda (Natasha Rothwell), telling her she’d be interested in funding her to launch her own business so Belinda doesn’t have to deal with “f**ked up rich white people” all the time.

Belinda is cautious but optimistic. As viewers, we know precious Belinda is inevitably going to be crushed by these people.

Elsewhere, trust-fund baby Shane Patton (Jake Lacy) has breakfast with his new wife Rachel (Alexandra Daddario) who is mulling over accepting an average job offer writing articles for the Burning Man festival.

“You did those jobs for dough, and I hate to blow your mind, but your situation has changed,” he says. “You don’t need to do anything anymore. Welcome to the rest of your wonderful life.”

Clearly uncomfortable with giving up her independence, Rachel seeks support from stranger and fellow guest, Nicole Mossbacher (Connie Britton), who is a high-flying CFO of a search engine company.

Worried she is going to “lose my career and myself”, Nicole gives her a stern warning.

“I think you’ve gotta be careful and keep your own orbit going. You don’t want to have abandoned your career, (because) marriages don’t always work out. Your power is your independence. Don’t give up your power.”

With new-found inspiration, Rachel tells Shane she wants to accept the job.

He proceeds to tell her she’s “rude” for even considering it, and that he’ll pay her “double” to not accept it and the feminist inside me wants to throw up.

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Rachel is already having doubts about her new marriage. Picture: Foxtel

Shane quickly turns his attention to his growing beef with Armond (Murray Bartlett), following their argument in the first episode over being placed in the wrong hotel suite.

“I have an email from my mother. Yesterday you said we’re paying for the room we have. But we did pay money for the room we don’t have,” Shane says, whipping out the receipts.

Armond again assures him that his mother is paying the rate for the room they already have, but as unnecessary compensation offers him a room with an extra toilet, much to the displeasure of Shane who runs to call his mama to investigate the situation further.

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Shane is not giving up his pursuit for the pineapple suite. Picture: Foxtel

Armond is quickly losing his tolerance. Picture: Foxtel

Armond is quickly losing his tolerance, telling Belinda he almost broke his five years of sobriety the night prior. “What if I just can’t f**king do this anymore?,” he asks.

He later gets his hands on a bag stashed with drugs that Olivia accidentally left at the beach, as he ominously pops a pill following a tough day at the office.

Screen-obsessed teen Quinn Mossbacher moves his roll-away bed from the kitchen to his sister’s bedroom and is swiftly kicked out, before going to sleep on the beach where he’s seen blissfully embracing the sunrise as the episode comes to an end.

The six-part series is clearly planting a sprinkle of (lotus) seeds early on as it teeters on the edge of imminent trouble in paradise.

The White Lotus streams on Foxtel